REVENUE from the sale of tobacco has surpassed $110 million since the start of the selling season, amid indications more communal farmers were considering switching from maize to the production of the golden leaf.
Business Reporters
Tobacco sales started last month.
Latest statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) showed that as of last Friday (Day 27), revenue had reached $111,2 million from the 30,1 million kg of tobacco sold.
The value is 16,38% above last year’s figure and 15,70% above last year’s output.
The price of tobacco as at March 21 2013 averaged $3,69 per kg, 0,58 up from $3,67 per kg during the same period last year.
On Friday, Boka Tobacco Auction Floors (BTAF) sold 4 110 million kg followed by Tobacco Sales Floors (TSF) with 4 103 million kg and Premier Tobacco Auction Floor (PTAF) with 3 299 million kg.
In the period under review, TSF bought tobacco at an average price of $3,72 per kg, BTAF at $3,64 per kg and PTAF at $3,57 per kg.
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Masvingo South MP Walter Mzembi at the weekend said communal maize farmers in his constituency were considering shifting to tobacco production in the coming cropping season due to low rainfall.
He said farmers would this week engage TIMB with the view to switch to the cash crop.
Mzembi, who is also Tourism minister, said he had already met TIMB officials who carried out a tobacco growing demo in the constituency.
“On Wednesday TIMB officials will meet with farmers in Ward 30 to discuss ways they can use to grow tobacco. Due to our rainfall patterns, it’s better to grow tobacco than maize,” he said.
TIMB chief executive officer Andrew Matibiri confirmed the development saying farmers had expressed a keen interest in growing tobacco.
“Traditionally farmers in that region used to grow oriental tobacco whose yields were low mainly because it is labour intensive unlike flue-cured tobacco,” he said.
Historical records show that Oriental tobacco is a sun-cured, highly aromatic, a small-leafed variety that is grown in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Lebanon and the Republic of Macedonia.
Oriental tobacco is frequently referred to as “Turkish tobacco”, as these regions were all historically part of the Ottoman Empire.
Official figures show that at peak, nearly a decade ago, 50 tonnes of oriental tobacco was grown, which was then bought by cigarette manufacturing companies.
